For operating below standard, the authorities of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), have sealed off 431 pharmacies, other medicine outlets in Imo State.The Director of Inspection and Monitoring, Mrs. Anthonia O. Aruya, made the disclosure at the weekend, after the enforcement exercise in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.She said 522 premises, comprising 103 pharmacies and 419 other medicine selling outlets, were visited during the monitoring and inspection exercise.

Aruya, accompanied by a Deputy Director of the council, Stephen Esumobi, another pharmacist, Shiihii Solomon and others, stressed that as a Federal Government agency regulating, educating and training and practice of Pharmacy as enshrined in the Decree 91 of 1992, now known as Nigeria Act Cap P17, LFN, 2004, ensuring quality, safety and efficacy of medicines, said: “This is the 27th state the Council is visiting so far. Various parts of the state were visited during this period.

Meanwhile, 13 pharmacies were given compliance directives for various offences, ranging from improper handling of controlled substances, unhygienic environment and poor documentation, dispensing ethical /prescription drugs without the presence of a pharmacist.

“The general public is advised to source its drug needs from registered Patent and Prioprietary Medicine Vendor (PPMV) shops for over the counter drugs as drugs in unregistered outlets cannot be guaranteed to be genuine.”Aruya, expressed worry over what she saw in Imo State, disclosing that legal action would be taken against offenders where necessary.